A wily insurance investigator meets his match when he comes face-to-face with a hypnotist and his jade scorpion.

ABSTRACTC. W. Briggs is 1940s-era New York City's self-proclaimed king of all insurance investigators, constantly assuring office "efficiency expert" Betty Ann Fitzgerald of his ability to foil schemes big and small with ease. A night out in the company of magician Voltan and his jade scorpion leaves Briggs hypnotized, manipulated into carrying out robberies at the nefarious Voltan's whim; assigned to investigate the case, C. W. must figure out a way to break the spell, discover himself as the culprit in the robberies, and foil Voltan's elaborate conspiracy.